This I cannot take quietly as a true-blooded, registered voter, taxpayer and a proud Sorsoganon. Why oh why would you declare someone persona non grata? Nanu man tabi ini na pasali? (What's the fuss?) Declaring a tourist persona non grata is the most severe form of censure, it is otherwise declaring that person as culturally rejected for all intents and purposes.
Declaring a travel blogger persona non grata should require more than posting very objective if not honest-to-goodness account of his perception, eh? It cannot be upon someone else's whims who took the observations personally. It's nothing personal honey, if only you did your job! Kaya man palan an turismo sa Sorsogon arug sada, it goes without saying.. Don't cry foul now, please!
Observations like that should be taken as a positive criticism. You honorable people should have called for a board meeting to brainstorm on what you can do, or pass, or whatever it is that you do to never let that thing happen again. Accept it, reflect on it, work on it, apologize if you must but definitely not declare that traveler persona non grata! Unless, you no longer want tourists.. Tourists will not be very excited to visit our beautiful place if they are in fear of being declared persona non grata for airing their experiences.
Ano man daw yan na kaisipan tabi, pakay-ada man daw, Makakaalu man baga. Ano man tabi an 'derogatory' didtu aber daw? Saru pa, igwa baga tabi kita freedom of speech, maski yan Kano, pag nasa laug yan kang bansa ta, protektado man yan kang Constitution ta Manay, Manoy. (What kind of thinking is that? Be fair and reasonable please, this is embarrassing. Whatever is 'derogatory' in the postings? One more thing, we have the thing called tadhana, I mean freedom of speech, Filipino or not, he's protected by the Philippine Constitution.)
He's an international blogger for crying out loud, with international audience with possible number of tourists coming from all parts of the globe! Imagine the free promotions of tourism, this one guy could actually help us! Imagine, the number of locals who could benefit from tourists, Pag-arkila na lang tabi san bangka daku-daku na na bulig sa mga para-sira ta, extra income na! Awnanu pa man kumbaga. If still you do not believe in the power of social media, believe, people now rely on personal accounts and experiences of those who traveled before them. This blogger now favored us with too much publicity (CNN ang level!), good or bad, it's still publicity. Prepare for a swelling of tourists now, ayaw na tabi pagdi-deklara nin persona non grata ha?
If nothing immoral, illegal, obscene, nefarious , proscribed, unwarrantable, illicit has been committed, please don't. Mind you, if someone committed acts of all or some of the mentioned above, we, the people of Sorsogan will be the first to petition for a declaration. Otherwise, pasensyahi na tabi..
And oh by the way, it's only the government's representatives and not the local community that disappointed him. Well, he's not alone there, sa huna ko lang. Damu ada kami na disappointed man.
As for us true Sorsoganos, we continue to be warm and welcoming as we always are.. Kung ananu an igwa kita, ipadayaw ta. Hampangun ta an bisita ta, pareho san turo san mga magurang ta, nan mga turo ni Ma'am nan ni Sir! Estimara an bisita! Lain kay puro-persona non grata na, marasa pa! Never allow our guests to leave without a warm feeling in their hearts and the desire to return. Makauugma baga ina, magianun sa pamati. Sabi ngani san Coke, 'sino napasaya mo today'?
A traveler entrusts his/her welfare, life and limbs completely to the locals he/ she is visiting, foreigner or not. Thus, a courtesy call afforded to the local government must not be taken lightly. Mayad ngani ini na tawu na ini kay maaram mag-kurtisiya! I traveled a few, and always the impression of how that country's or local government take care of its people and its guests makes it to the top list. How safe and protected you feel in that country, how you slept at night peacefully and walked the narrow alleys at night without fear. And now, maybe how you don't get declared persona non grata after posting your experiences.. Marasa pa baya talaga!
Sorsogon is a beautiful, beautiful place.. and so is its people. Ours is a quiet, peaceful province, Everyone is welcome, we invite you to visit us. Proud to be Sorsoganon I say, dagus tabi! (Welcome!)
Thank you, Nathan Allen, for visiting our place and the kind words you have for our place and for our people. And thank you for expressing your fair and square 'disappointments', we have been doing that for quite some time.. but well, you know, whatever.
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My apologies.. But I know, this will never stop you from seizing the day! As you must have read from our colorful jeepneys 'God bless your trips!'.
